CHANGE IN CONTROL
AGREEMENT
This Agreement is
effective as of the date it is signed by both Novelis Inc., a
Canadian corporation (the “Company”), and
Mr. Philip Martens (“Executive”).
WHEREAS, the
Company’s Board of Directors has determined that it is in the
best interest of the Company’s shareholders to reinforce and
encourage the continued attention and dedication of members of the
Company’s management, including Executive, to their assigned
duties without distraction in potentially disturbing circumstances
arising from the possibility of a Change in Control; and
WHEREAS, this
Agreement sets forth the payments and other benefits to which
Executive will be entitled upon certain conditions if
Executive’s employment with the Company
terminates.
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the premises and mutual covenants and agreements
set forth below, it is hereby agreed as follows:
1.
Term. This Agreement shall terminate, except to the
extent that any obligation of the Company hereunder remains unpaid
as of such time, upon the earlier of:
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(a)
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April 15, 2011, unless a Change
in Control occurs on or before such date; or
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(b)
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Twenty-four (24) months
following the date of a Change in Control.
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2.
Payment upon Termination of Employment.
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(a)
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Events Giving Rise to
Benefits. Executive shall be entitled to
payments and other benefits as set forth in Sections 2(b) and 2(c)
if the Company shall terminate Executive’s employment other
than for Cause, or Executive shall terminate his or her employment
for Good Reason, within twenty-four (24) months after a Change
in Control. Executive’s right to receive compensation and
benefits under this Agreement shall be subject to the terms and
conditions of the Company’s release from and waiver by
Executive of claims, non-compete agreement and non-solicitation
agreement for executive employees. No payments or benefits shall be
paid pursuant to this Agreement unless Executive executes such
release and waiver of claims, non-compete agreement and
non-solicitation agreement. The release shall not release
Executive’s right to receive indemnification and defense from
the Company for any claims arising out of the performance of
Executive’s duties on behalf of the Company. Termination of
employment due to Cause,
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Death, Disability or Retirement at
any time shall not give rise to any rights to compensation or
benefits under this Agreement.
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(b)
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Severance Pay.
In accordance with
Section 2(a) above, the Company shall pay a lump sum cash amount
equal to:
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[A
x (B + C)] – D, where
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“A” equals a multiplier
of 2.0;
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“B” equals
Executive’s annual base salary (including all amounts of such
base salary that are voluntarily deferred under any qualified and
non-qualified plans of the Company) determined at the rate in
effect as of the date of such termination of employment;
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“C” equals
Executive’s target short term incentive opportunity for the
calendar year in which such Change in Control occurs;
and
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“D” equals the amount of
severance payments, if any, paid or payable to Executive by the
Company other than pursuant to this Agreement; it being expressly
understood that the purpose of this deduction is to avoid any
duplication of payments to Executive.
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Except to the extent payment is
required to be delayed pursuant to Section 2(d) below, payment
shall be made by the thirtieth (30 th ) day following the effective date
of the Executive’s termination of employment if such
termination occurs after a Change in Control.
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(c)
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Other Benefits.
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(i)
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If
Executive is not eligible for retiree medical benefits and is
covered under the Company’s group health plan at the time of
the termination of employment, the Company shall pay an additional
lump sum cash amount for the purpose of assisting Executive with
the cost of post-employment medical continuation coverage equal to:
(C x M) / (1 – T), where
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“C” equals the full
monthly COBRA premium charged for coverage under the
Company’s group medical plan at Executive’s then
current level of coverage;
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“M” equals twelve
(12) months; and
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“T” equals an assumed
tax rate of 40%
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Except to the extent payment is
required to be delayed pursuant to Section 2(d) below, payment
shall be made by the thirtieth (30 th ) day following the effective date
of the Executive’s termination of employment if such
termination occurs after a Change in Control.
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(ii)
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To
the extent available, Executive shall be entitled to continue
coverage under the Company’s group life plan for a period of
twelve (12) months at Executive’s pre-termination level
of coverage.
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(iii)
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Executive shall be entitled to
twelve (12) months of additional credit for benefit accrual
and contribution allocation purposes including credit for age,
service and earnings pro rated over twelve (12) months under the
Company’s tax-qualified and non-qualified pension, savings or
other retirement plans; provided that if applicable provisions of
the Code prevent payment in respect of such credit under the
Company’s tax-qualified plans, such payments shall be made
under the Company’s non-qualified plans.
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(iv)
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To
the extent Executive is not already fully vested under the
Company’s tax-qualified and non-qualified retirement pension,
savings and other retirement plans, Executive shall become 100%
vested under such plans; provided that if applicable provisions of
the Code prevent accelerated vesting under the Company’s
tax-qualified plans, an equivalent benefit shall be payable under
the Company’s non-qualified plans.
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(d)
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Notwithstanding the foregoing
provisions of this Section 2 or any other provision in this
Agreement to the contrary, if Executive is a “specified
employee” within the meaning of Code Section 409A, then
all payments under this Agreement shall be delayed for a period of
six (6) months to the extent required by
Section 409A.
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(a)
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Gross-Up Payment.
Notwithstanding anything
in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event it shall be
determined that any payment or distribution to or for the benefit
of Executive, whether paid or payable or distributed or
distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement (other than
any payment under this Section 3) or otherwise would be
subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code
or a similar section (such payment, a “Change in
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Control Payment” and such
excise tax on all such Change in Control Payments, together with
any interest and penalties thereon, collectively the “Excise
Tax”), then Executive shall be entitled to receive an
additional payment (a “Gross-Up Payment”) in an amount
determined by the Accounting Firm (defined below) such that after
payment by Executive of any tax thereon, Executive retains an
amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the amount of the Excise
Tax; provided, however, that if the aggregate value (as determined
under Section 280G of the Code) of such Change in Control Payments
is less than 110% of the product of “3 times” the
Executive’s “base amount” (as defined in
Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) (such product, the
“Golden Parachute Threshold”), then Executive shall not
be entitled to any Gross-Up Payment and, instead, the Change in
Control Payments shall be reduced so that their aggregate value (as
so determined) is equal to $1.00 less than the Golden Parachute
Threshold.
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For
purposes of this Section 3, Executive’s applicable
Federal, state and local taxes shall be computed at the maximum
marginal rates, taking into account the effect of any loss of
personal exemptions resulting from receipt of the Gross-Up
Payment.
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(b)
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Determinations.
All determinations
required to be made under this Section 3, including whether a
Gross-Up Payment is required under Section 3(a), and the
assumptions to be used in determining the Gross-Up Payment, shall
be made by such nationally recognized accounting firm as the
Company may designate in writing prior to a Change in Control (the
“Accounting Firm”), which shall provide detailed
supporting calculations both to the Company and Executive within
thirty (30) days of the receipt of notice from Executive that
there has been a Change in Control, or such earlier time as is
requested by the Company. In the event that the Accounting Firm is
serving as accountant or auditor for the Person effecting the
Change in Control or is otherwise unavailable, Executive may
appoint another nationally recognized accounting firm to make the
determinations required hereunder (which accounting firm shall then
be referred to as the Accounting Firm hereunder). All fees and
expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the
Company.
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(c)
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Subsequent
Redeterminations. Unless requested otherwise by the
Company, Executive agrees to use reasonable efforts to contest in
good faith any subsequent determination by the Internal Revenue
Service that Executive owes an amount of Excise Tax greater than
the amount determined pursuant to Section 3(b), provided that
Executive shall be entitled to reimbursement by the Company of
all
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fees and expenses reasonably
incurred by Executive in contesting such determination. In the
event the Internal Revenue Service or any court of competent
jurisdiction determines that Executive owes an amount of Excise Tax
that is either greater or less than the amount previously taken
into account and paid under this Section 3, the Co
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